Uthman ibn Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) was one of the earliest followers of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). He married two of the Prophet's (ﷺ) daughters, one after the other. He later became the third caliph, the leader of the Muslims after the Prophet (ﷺ).
This guide is not about power or politics. It is about his faith: his modesty, his generosity and his love of the Qur'an, and what they can teach us today.
At a glance
- A wealthy, honest merchant of Mecca who believed early, through Abu Bakr's invitation.
- He married two of the Prophet's (ﷺ) daughters, and so was called Dhun-Nurayn: the one with two lights.
- He left his home twice for his faith: first to Abyssinia, then to Medina.
- He was so modest that the Prophet (ﷺ) said even the angels showed him modesty.
- He spent his wealth for the believers: a well for everyone, and supplies in a time of hardship.
- As the third caliph, he sent copies of the Qur'an to every region.
- c. 576
Born in Mecca, into the tribe of Quraysh. He becomes a wealthy merchant. Ibn Sa'd, Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir
- Early years
Abu Bakr invites him to Islam, and he believes. He marries Ruqayyah, the Prophet's (ﷺ) daughter. Ibn Ishaq, The Life of Muhammad
- c. 615
He and Ruqayyah are among the first believers to emigrate to Abyssinia. Ibn Ishaq, The Life of Muhammad
- 622
The Hijra to Medina: his second emigration for his faith. Sahih al-Bukhari 3696Encyclopaedia Britannica
- 624
He nurses Ruqayyah in her last illness. Later he marries Umm Kulthum, another daughter of the Prophet (ﷺ). Sahih al-Bukhari 3130Ibn Sa'd, Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir
- 628
At al-Hudaybiyah, the Prophet (ﷺ) makes the pledge for him with his own hand. Qur’an 48:18Sahih al-Bukhari 3698
- 630
He equips the believers for the hard journey to Tabuk. Sahih al-Bukhari 2778Qur’an 9:117
- 644–656
The third caliph. He enlarges the Prophet's (ﷺ) mosque and sends a copy of the Qur'an to every region. Sahih al-Bukhari 446Sahih al-Bukhari 4987Encyclopaedia Britannica
Dates are in the Common Era. Early dates are approximate.
An early believer
Uthman was born in Mecca into the tribe of Quraysh, a few years after the Prophet (ﷺ). He grew up to be a rich merchant, known for his good character and his modesty. Ibn Sa'd, Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir
When the Prophet (ﷺ) began to call people to worship Allah (﷾) alone, his friend Abu Bakr shared the message with people he trusted. Uthman was one of them. He listened, and he believed. The early biography of the Prophet (ﷺ) names him among those who came to Islam through Abu Bakr's invitation. Soon after, he married Ruqayyah, the Prophet's (ﷺ) daughter. Ibn Ishaq, The Life of Muhammad
Many years later, Uthman summed up his life with the Prophet (ﷺ). He had believed in everything the Prophet (ﷺ) was sent with. He had made both emigrations, stayed in his company and given him his pledge. And, he said, by Allah (﷾), he had never disobeyed him or deceived him until Allah (﷾) took the Prophet (ﷺ) to Himself. Sahih al-Bukhari 3696
Leaving home for Allah (﷾)
In Mecca the believers were mocked and hurt for their faith. So the Prophet (ﷺ) allowed some of them to go to Abyssinia (in today's Ethiopia), where a just Christian king ruled and nobody was wronged. Among the very first to go were Uthman and his wife Ruqayyah. A rich man left his trade and his home, and became a stranger in a faraway land, for the sake of Allah (﷾). Ibn Ishaq, The Life of Muhammad
Later the believers moved to Medina, and Uthman went too. He had now left his home twice for his faith. This move to Medina is the Hijra, which means emigration. Sahih al-Bukhari 3696Encyclopaedia Britannica
In Medina, Ruqayyah fell seriously ill. When the believers went out to Badr, Uthman stayed behind to nurse her. The Prophet (ﷺ) told him he would have the same reward as those who went. Ruqayyah died during those days. Sahih al-Bukhari 3130Ibn Ishaq, The Life of Muhammad
Afterwards the Prophet (ﷺ) gave him another of his daughters in marriage, Umm Kulthum. Because he married two daughters of the Prophet (ﷺ), one after the other, Uthman became known as Dhun-Nurayn: the one with two lights. Ibn Sa'd, Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir
A modesty the angels respect
Uthman was known for his haya: a deep modesty and shyness that comes from faith. The Prophet (ﷺ) taught that modesty is a part of faith. Sahih al-Bukhari 9
Once the Prophet (ﷺ) was resting at home when Uthman asked to come in. The Prophet (ﷺ) sat up and put his clothes in order before he let him in. His wife Aisha asked him why. He answered: should he not show modesty to a man whom even the angels treat with modesty? Sahih Muslim 2401
In another report, the Prophet (ﷺ) explained it simply. Uthman was a very modest man, and the Prophet (ﷺ) did not want him to feel too shy to say what he had come for. The Prophet (ﷺ) cared for his companion's feelings, and he honoured his modesty. Sahih Muslim 2402
The Prophet's (ﷺ) hand for his
In 628 the Prophet (ﷺ) set out with the believers to visit the Kaaba in worship. Near Mecca, at a place called al-Hudaybiyah, they stopped. The Prophet (ﷺ) chose Uthman to go into Mecca and tell its leaders that the Muslims had come only to worship. Ibn Ishaq, The Life of MuhammadSahih al-Bukhari 3698
While Uthman was away, the believers gave the Prophet (ﷺ) a pledge of loyalty under a tree. Uthman could not be there. So the Prophet (ﷺ) held up his own right hand and said it stood for Uthman's hand. He struck it on his other hand to make the pledge for him. Allah (﷾) was pleased with all who pledged that day: Sahih al-Bukhari 3698
Allah's Good Pleasure was on the Believers when they swore Fealty to thee under the Tree: He knew what was in their hearts, and He sent down Tranquillity to them
Wealth spent for Allah (﷾)
Uthman was rich, and he used his wealth for Allah (﷾). The Prophet (ﷺ) promised Paradise to whoever would dig out the well of Rumah, and Uthman did it. It became a gift for everyone: a well for all the Muslims, and Uthman drew water from it like anyone else. Sahih al-Bukhari 2778
In 630 came a time of great hardship: a long journey north to Tabuk, in the summer heat. There was little money, and few animals to ride. The Prophet (ﷺ) promised Paradise to whoever would equip the believers for it, and Uthman equipped them. The Qur'an speaks of those who stayed with the Prophet (ﷺ) in that hour. They were the emigrants from Mecca (the Muhajirs) and the believers of Medina who helped them (the Ansar): Sahih al-Bukhari 2778Ibn Ishaq, The Life of Muhammad
Allah turned with favour to the Prophet, the Muhajirs, and the Ansar,- who followed him in a time of distress
His giving did not stop there. Years later he greatly enlarged the Prophet's (ﷺ) mosque in Medina and rebuilt it in stone. When people objected to the change, he reminded them what the Prophet (ﷺ) had said. Whoever builds a mosque for Allah (﷾), Allah (﷾) builds for him a home like it in Paradise. Sahih al-Bukhari 446Sahih al-Bukhari 450Qur’an 2:261
The same Qur'an in every region
In 644 Uthman became the third khalifah (caliph), which means successor: not a new prophet, but a leader who follows the Prophet's (ﷺ) way. He led the Muslims until 656. Encyclopaedia Britannica
By then, people far from Medina recited the Qur'an in their own dialects, and some had written their own notes in their personal copies. So Uthman had copies made of the volume written in Abu Bakr's time. The copies were in the dialect of the Quraysh, the Prophet's (ﷺ) own tribe, in which the Qur'an was revealed. He sent one to every region. They held only the Qur'an, God's (﷾) own words, just as the angel Jibril brought them to the Prophet (ﷺ). Allah (﷾) Himself had promised to guard it: Sahih al-Bukhari 4987What is the Qur'an?
We have, without doubt, sent down the Message; and We will assuredly guard it (from corruption).
Uthman loved the Qur'an and the Prophet's (ﷺ) way, and he passed both on. He reported the Prophet's (ﷺ) words that the best of people are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it. Once he called for water and showed people, step by step, how the Prophet (ﷺ) washed for prayer. Then he passed on the Prophet's (ﷺ) promise. Whoever washes like this, then prays two units of prayer with full attention, will have his past sins forgiven. Sahih al-Bukhari 5027Sahih al-Bukhari 159
Patient to the end
The Prophet (ﷺ) once sent Uthman the good news that he would enter Paradise, after a trial that would come to him. Uthman praised Allah (﷾) and asked Him for steadfastness, saying that Allah (﷾) is the One whose help is sought. Sahih al-Bukhari 3693Sahih Muslim 2403
The early histories record that in 656 he was killed in his own home in Medina, while reading the Qur'an. al-Tabari, The History of al-Tabari, vol. 15Ibn Sa'd, Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir
What we can learn
Uthman's journey shows what faith looks like in a quiet, generous heart.
- Let modesty be part of your faith. His shyness and good manners were honoured by the Prophet (ﷺ), who said even the angels showed him modesty.
- Give where it is needed most. Water for everyone, and help in a time of hardship: he gave when it mattered.
- Be ready to leave everything for Allah (﷾). He left his home and his trade twice for the sake of his faith.
- Learn the Qur'an and teach it. He passed on the Prophet's (ﷺ) words that the best people do just that, and he lived by them.
- Meet trials with patience. When he heard of a hardship to come, he praised Allah (﷾) and asked for His help.